Tag Archives: Airports Aircraft Airlines

Roy Knabenshue flies his 13-passenger dirigible over the Raymond Hotel, Pasadena, California, 1913

Roy Knabenshue was an aeronautical engineer and aviator, who worked with the Wright brothers, so he was there at the very start of aviation. He was big into dirigibles and was the first person to make a dirigible flight over … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Aerial photo looking west along Wilshire Blvd at Rogers Airport on Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, 1922

The land around the corner of Wilshire Blvd and Fairfax Ave is so densely developed these days that it’s hard to imagine it was once home to an airport. This aerial photo was taken in 1922 looking west along Wilshire … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Theme Building under construction at Los Angeles International Airport, circa early 1960s

Los Angeles has more than its fair share of iconic buildings (L.A. City Hall, Capitol Records, Griffith Observatory, Disney Concert Hall, Grauman’s Chinese, Hollywood Bowl, to name a few) but there is nothing like the Theme Building that stands in … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Aerial photo of Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose wooden aircraft in Long Beach, California, circa October 1947

When Howard Hughes conceived the Hercules, it was the world’s largest wooden aircraft, which is why it was nicknamed the Spruce Goose—but don’t let Mr. Hughes hear you say that! This aerial photo, taken circa October 1947, shows how just … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments

An American Airlines aircraft on display in the gardens of the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, 1937

From Dave DeCaro’s always-fascinating Davelandweb.com site, comes this interesting shot. If you’re American Airlines and you want the public to see your latest aircraft, you need to find a location with plenty of space. The gardens out front of the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Aerial view of Los Angeles International Airport, 1963

This aerial view of Los Angeles International Airport was taken in 1963, two years after the main terminal complex opened, and with lots of empty land around it. These days the layout is pretty much the same, except that the … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 17 Comments

Dirigible balloon attracts a crowd of onlookers on the grounds of the Raymond Hotel, near Pasadena, California, 1905

In 1905, just two years after the first flight of the Kitty Hawk, these curious Angelenos gathered on the grounds of the Raymond Hotel in Pasadena to feast their eyes on something they wouldn’t have seen before: a dirigible. They … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Female inspectors check the center wings of C-47 transport planes at the Douglas Aircraft Co, Long Beach, California, October 1942

While recently researching women entering the workforce during World War II, I found this marvelous photo of female inspectors checking the center wings of C-47 transport planes. It was taken at the Douglas Aircraft Co, at 3855 Lakewood Boulevard in … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Color photograph of the Brown Derby restaurant, 1624 Vine Street, Hollywood, 1948

Color photos of the Vine Street Brown Derby aren’t too common so I’ll gratefully take every one I can get. This one was taken in 1948 when their neighbors were Western Air Line and Maurice Inc, which sold knitwear. I … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Looking across Vine Street to the Brown Derby restaurant, Hollywood, circa mid 1950

…sigh… Don’t you just love an eye-popping Kodachrome (which I only assume this is) photo? Especially when the photographer was standing on the west side of Vine Street, Hollywood looking at the Brown Derby restaurant over a brown 1953 Chevrolet. … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment